Primary Care & Women's Sexual Health

A Trauma-Informed Approach

This type of care is extremely important as it takes into account a person's complete life situation. It informs all the care the client will have from the centre and focus is on healing from the client’s perspective. It helps clients to feel engaged, validated, as well as improving their adherence to treatments and health outcomes. In turn by being more thorough it helps to reduce costs to both the health care system and client as it is not a band-aid type of medicine.

The Four R’s of trauma-informed care include:

1. Realizing the widespread impact of trauma and understanding pathways for recovery;
2. Recognizing the signs and symptoms in patients, families and staff;
3. Responding to trauma in an informed way;
4. Resisting Re-traumatization.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) work much like a Medical Doctor (MD), providing the following services that an MD would, including comprehensive assessments, diagnosis, ordering laboratory/diagnostic tests, prescribing medications and referring to a specialist when necessary.

Carrie Whittley is our new Nurse Practitioner and has been working with client’s that have experienced trauma for over 20 years. She is experienced in trauma- informed gynecological exams as well as working with clients that have experienced many different types of assault including physical, emotional and sexual. She is easy to talk to, non-judgemental and has a great deal of compassion when working with clients. While she is able to provide primary care within the full NP scope, she is also able to address more specific needs such as sexual health, women’s health and many different aspects of Mental health that face us in today’s extremely busy lifestyle.

Carrie is excited to work within the CHI team to help address further how trauma may impact one’s health. We know that trauma affects the whole body as well as our mental health. Many people are mis-diagnosed with anxiety, depression and personality disorders when in reality it all stems from a trauma. Trauma can also put us at risk for autoimmune, cardiac and a myriad of other health conditions such as worsening chronic pain disorders. By treating the entire client and engaging with them to fully focus on their health history, behaviours and goals we can work towards providing optimal well being.